If you’re in the market for a timeless, discreet dress watch with a design and movement that elicits a sense of quiet confidence, then the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master collection has plenty of contenders. A long-time favourite for many is the Master Ultra Thin Power Reserve which has just been recently updated to include a subtly modernised case, gradient midnight blue dial and a significantly increased power reserve.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Power Reserve - Credit Jaeger-LeCoultre
Jaeger-LeCoultre make their own movements, and although that’s not entirely rare in the luxury watch industry these days, it no less impressive. In-house movement manufacture gives watch brands full control over the overall functionality, precision and finishing of a movement and in turn, they can continue to improve on their calibres in line with advancing technology.
That’s exactly what Jaeger-LeCoultre has done with their Calibre 938. The in-house automatic winding movement now boasts an impressive power reserve of 70 hours. For many, this is the perfect length of power reserve in mechanical watches; you can take the model off your wrist on the Friday and put it back on Monday morning knowing full well it’s still keeping time.
The upgraded power reserve has been cleverly accomplished without any increase to the calibre size. Calibre 938 still remains 4.9mm thick which allows the watches it powers to be kept nice and slim. How have they done this? They’ve completely redesigned the mainspring barrel and swapped out some key components for ones made of silicon making the energy transmission smoother by reducing friction of the moving parts.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Power Reserve - Credit Jager-LeCoultre
Since it’s in the name, it fares that the power reserve is pretty important in the Master Ultra Thin Power Reserve watch. For the latest edition, the indicator is presented within a recessed, triangle-shaped counter with a red and white indicator. It is placed beside two perfectly round, equally recessed opaline counters for the date and small seconds. Although wholly asymmetrical, the dial still feels perfectly balanced.
As mentioned, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Power Reserve watch presents its mass of complications on a dark midnight blue sunray-brushed dial set with elongated hour markers and Dauphine hands in gold. To match, the case is engineered from 18ct pink gold and sits at 39mm wide and just 8.85mm thick. The case’s overall design has been slightly modernised with a slimmer profile and elongated lugs.
The Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Power Reserve watch completes its timelessly elegant look with a navy blue alligator leather strap and an 18ct pink gold pink buckle. The strap and buckles are easily interchangeable should you wish to swap them out for a compatible alternative.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Power Reserve - Credit Jaeger-LeCoultre
This is another fantastic novelty from Jaeger-LeCoultre; it looks comfortable, slender and just generally classy and luxurious with a nice balance of simplicity and complication. Since it’s solid gold, the price isn’t all that comfortable however, retailing for £20,400.
Technical Specifications:
- Brand: Jaeger-LeCoultre
- Model: Master Ultra Thin Power Reserve
- Price: £20,400
- Material: 18ct pink gold
- Movement: Calibre 938 automatic winding
- Complications: Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, power reserve indicator
- Dial: Blue sunray-finished gradient with gold hardware
- Size: 39mm wide, 8.95mm thick
- When the reviewer would personally wear it: This is a stunning formal dress watch and if I was lucky enough to own one of these myself, it would be reserved for only the most special occasions.
- A friend we’d recommend it to first: Someone looking for an elegant dress watch with a perfect balance of simplicity and functionality.
- Best characteristics of the watch: I think the execution of the dial is fantastic. I’ve always admired how such an asymmetrical display can still feel perfectly balanced.
- The worst characteristics of the watch: There’s nothing bad to say.
